New and revised Emmy categories make room for short-form, online video content.

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The Television Academy has made some small changes that could mean big things for online video content creators. The organization announced that it has expanded the criteria to be considered for an Emmy, making it easier for Internet-exclusive shows to win awards.

Content that will fall under the new "short-form" award categories are defined as "series with a minimum of six episodes running an average of 15 minutes or less per episode, exhibited over-the-air and/or via cable, satellite or Internet." Specifically, the three award categories are Outstanding Short Form Series—Comedy or Drama, which replaces the Short Format Live Entertainment category; the new Outstanding Short Form Series—Variety category; and the Outstanding Short Form Series—Reality/Nonfiction, which replaces the Short Format Nonfiction category.

While online video creators still struggle to gain the same recognition as traditional media creators (and the big budgets that follow), this change to the Emmys is a step in the right direction. It provides more validity for online content like the shows on YouTube and YouTube Red, which is already showing content from PewDiePie, Lilly Singh, and Rooster Teeth. The main awards show for Internet video until this point has been The Webbys, which are big awards for Internet creators but nowhere near as well-known as the Emmys by the general public and media. If nothing else, this could give Web video creators the chance to show traditional media that online video can be just as artistic and legitimate as regular television shows.

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Valentina Palladino
Valentina reviews consumer electronics for Ars Technica, testing all kinds of gadgets with a focus on mobile devices and wearables. She has a soft spot for Chromebooks. Twitter@valentinalucia